Posts Tagged ‘2013 acura ilx’

Honda will offer integration of Apple's Siri as a dealer-installed option in three vehicles starting later this year.

Honda will integrate Apple’s Siri intelligent assistant into its vehicles as an option for customers who own iPhones.

Siri’s is a potentially significant development for an auto industry where carmakers are scrambling to equip vehicles with the next big thing in infotainment systems that can both limit driver distractions while allowing motorists to have access to their media and friends.

Integrated Infotainment!

Ford has said that its Sync voice-activated system has driven sales of its cars. It has also triggered a wave of copycat systems, such as Toyota’s EnForm and Cadillac’s Cue. Analysts are now watching to see if Siri integration in cars will become a prime purchasing factor for buyers.

It can be a challenge to explain Acura to those unfamiliar with the brand – perhaps the reason why it has slipped under the radar for so many potential buyers. The first of the Japanese luxury brands, the Honda division quickly earned a reputation for style and sportiness with products such as the original Legend flagship and the smaller Integra.

But, in a head-scratching move, Acura responded to newcomers Lexus and Infiniti by abandoning those well-known nameplates in favor of indistinguishable alphanumeric designations. Worse, all too many of its products became dull and lackluster, sales tumbling in response.

The Last Word!

To its credit, Acura has finally recognized the errors of its way. And while it has yet to finally abandon the naming strategy, which leaves motorists struggling to determine the difference between an RL, TL and RLX, it has toned down the ungainly “beak” grille. Now, more importantly, it is also fleshing out a thin line-up, adding the new “flagship” RLX and, at the other market extreme, the 2013 Acura ILX.

The 2013 Acura ILX will be a critical piece of the brand's turnaround strategy.

After years of struggle, Japan’s first luxury car brand is forecasting a 45% surge in demand this year that will help it challenge top-tier rivals.

Acura officials say they’re counting on new and updated models – notably the entry-luxury ILK sedan and redesigned RDX crossover — to provide the moment that will boost sales to 180,000 for the year. An all-new flagship scheduled to debut at the New York Auto Show next month should also add momentum.

Insight!

“This is where we think we would have been” were it not for the impact of last year’s Japanese earthquake and tsunami, said Acura marketing chief Jeff Conrad.

The production version of the new 2013 Acura ILX is blowing into the Windy City just in time for the annual Chicago Auto Show.

The new compact sedan is Acura’s attempt to gain traction with both Gen-X and Millennials, especially those entering the luxury market for the first time. But Acura won’t have it easy, the new model – which first appeared in concept form at last month’s Detroit Auto Show – will go up against an array of tough competitors, from the BMW 3-Series to the Infiniti G and even Buick’s new Regal.

Your Auto Source!

The look of the production vehicle won’t surprise those who saw the earlier prototype. The basic shape is the same – minus a few of the chrome accents and high-tech details. Perhaps the most significant detail is the downsized version of the Acura chrome shield above the car’s grille – a design theme often derided as “the beak.”